St John of Kenty, Confessor: Missa “Miserátio hóminis”
John was a country lad who made good in the big city and the big university of Kraków, Poland. After brilliant studies he was ordained a priest and became a professor of theology. The inevitable opposition which saints encounter led to his being ousted by rivals and sent to be a parish priest at Olkusz. An extremely humble man, he did his best, but his best was not to the liking of his parishioners. Besides, he was afraid of the responsibilities of his position. But in the end he won his people’s hearts. After some time he returned to Kraków and taught Scripture for the remainder of his life.
John was a serious man, and humble, but known to all the poor of Kraków for his kindness. His goods and his money were always at their disposal, and time and again they took advantage of him. He kept only the money and clothes absolutely needed to support himself. He slept little, ate sparingly, and took no meat. He made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, hoping to be martyred by the Turks. Later John made four subsequent pilgrimages to Rome, carrying his luggage on his back. When he was warned to look after his health, he was quick to point out that, for all their austerity, the fathers of the desert lived remarkably long lives.
INTROIT Sir 18:12-13
Man may be merciful to his fellow man, but God’s mercy reaches all flesh. He has mercy, teaches and guides, as a shepherd does his flock. Ps 1:1 Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Man may be merciful to his fellow man, but God’s mercy reaches all flesh. He has mercy, teaches and guides, as a shepherd does his flock.
COLLECT
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that by following the example of blessed John, Your Confessor, we may advance in a knowledge of holiness and, by showing pity for others, obtain Your forgiveness through his merits. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE James 2:12-17
Lesson from the letter of St James the Apostle; Dearly beloved: So speak and so act as en about to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to him who has not shown mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment. What will it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but does not have works? Can the faith save him? And if a brother or a sister be naked and in want of daily food, and one of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, yet you do not give them what is necessary for the body, what does it profit? So faith too, unless it has works, is dead in itself.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 106:8-9
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness and His wondrous deeds to the children of men. V. Because He satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good things. Alleluia, alleluia. Prov 31:20 V. He extends his arms to the needy, and reaches out his hands to the poor. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 12: 35-40
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning, and you yourselves like men waiting for their master’s return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may straight-way open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the master, on his return, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will gird himself, and will make them recline at table, and will come and serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, and if in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! But of this be assured, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly have watched, and not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because at an hour that you do not expect, the Son of Man is coming.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Job 29:14-16
I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I; I was a father to the needy.
SECRET
Graciously accept these sacrificial gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, through the merits of blessed John, Your Confessor, and grant that, loving You above all things and all mankind because of You, we may be pleasing to You in heart and in deed. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Though whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us join with them in confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they pour into your lap.
POSTCOMMUNION
Filled with the good food of Your precious Body and Blood, we humbly implore Your clemency, O Lord, that by the merits and example of blessed John, Your Confessor, we may imitate his charity and share in his glory. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 